It was a fair question, and Besca didn’t have a good answer for it. She stared up at the picture, at [i]Dammerung[/i], and all she could see was it carving through [i]Grauritter[/i] and [i]Magnifique[/i] in the Hovvi quarry. She saw it emerging miraculously from the singularity in Casoban, saw it standing over [i]Dragon[/i], ready to take Deelie away if Quinn hadn’t stopped him. [i]It[/i]. 

Deep within Quinn, [color=black]something[/color] sunk down, small and terrified. It left her alone and cold. Then, Dahlia moved to her side, peeled one of her hands free to squeeze tight, and she was only cold. Her sister’s eyes were fixed to the picture, her expression confused and distinctly fearful. 

“[color=gray]This,[/color]” Besca started, only to pause to collect herself. “[color=gray]This isn’t…[i]unheard[/i] of, necessarily. It happens—happened, really—that when a pilot completes the circuit, or a Savior gets dragged into a singularity, they come back…reverted, into Modir. You don’t really see it nowadays, but especially early into the programs, it was a thing.[/color]

“[color=gray][i]Dammerung[/i] disappeared after the war with Aridea, so it was probably only a matter of time before we saw it reemerge as a Modir again. The problem is…well, you said it [i]spoke[/i] to you, Quinn. And I believe you, but now we need to [i]absolutely[/i] certain, so…[/color]” she tapped on the table, and an audio file popped up on the screen. “[color=gray]Is this the voice you heard?[/color]”

She hit play. For a moment there was nothing—an off-white noise as someone rustled around on the other side of two hundred years. 

Then: “[color=silver]It cannot stand,[/color]” a voice said, so clear and familiar in Quinn’s ears, she might have been forgive for thinking herself back on those Casobani hills. “[color=silver]What they’re doing…what my family does…they wouldn’t see just Illun kneel. They will bend the wills of gods and devils to put all of creation beneath their boot. That…that [i]thing[/i], it will be the end of us. It is the bane of man and monster alike. So yes, captain. Yes, you have blade. Until Aridea falls, and Illun’s will is its own again to unite against our common enemy, we are of a purpose.[/color]”